1. Key Issues
  2. Opioids

Opioids

On the frontlines, protecting Arizonans

There are few families in our state and across our country that haven’t been touched in some way by the opioid epidemic and fentanyl crisis – with more experiencing the horrors of these drugs daily.

 

More than FIVE people die of an opioid overdose every day

-Arizona Department of Health Services, 2023

 

Compensating for the opioid epidemic

After years of litigation, U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, marketing firms, pharmacy chains, and pharmacy benefit managers have been held accountable for their role in contributing to the opioid epidemic. The pharmaceutical industry will pay more than $1.12 billion to Arizona over the next 18 years for opioid treatment, prevention and education. The state, counties, cities and towns will distribute funding for remediation of the deadly abuse of prescription painkillers perpetuated by these companies.

About the opioid settlement funds

 

AZ State with numbers.One Arizona Agreement

The State of Arizona and its counties, cities and towns agreed upon a framework to distribute the settlement funds across the state and into communities. The One Arizona Agreement sends 56 percent of the opioid settlement funds to the counties, cities and towns and 44 percent to the State.

The allocation for each of the 15 counties and 91 cities and towns is based on population as well as the relative degree of harm suffered by each community as a result of the opioids crisis. Each local government controls how the settlement funds are spent and report the expenditures annually.

Region Distribution Dashboard 
State Distribution Dashboard

 

Teva Naloxone Program Option

As part of the Teva Settlement Agreement, the State of Arizona opted to receive from Teva Pharmaceuticals 27,700 units of naloxone per year for up to ten years. Each unit contains two doses of nasal naloxone. The AGO must renew Arizona’s option every two years. The AGO can submit up to 4 purchase orders per year with each purchase order naming up to 5 locations for delivery. Each location must be vetted for storage capacity and be under the ADHS medical director’s license until the naloxone being shipped is the Over-The-Counter formulation. At present, the naloxone is the prescription variety.

The AGO post results on this dashboard periodically.

First quarter recipients:

Gila County Health Department - 700 units 
Kayle Lathrop - [email protected] 

Mohave County Health Department – 1,200 units 
Celina Lagpacan - [email protected] 

Navajo County Health Department – 1,200 units 
Amy Stradling - [email protected] 

Pima County Health Department – 3,000 units 
Monica Tun - [email protected] 

Yuma County Health Department – 900 units 
Ryan Butcher - [email protected] 

Second quarter recipients:

Maricopa County Department of Public Health - 1,600 units 
Carmen Batista - [email protected] 

Cochise County Health & Social Services - 1,200 units 
Kendra Allen - [email protected] 

Pinal County Public Health Services District - 1,200 units 
Cori Wilson - [email protected] 

Yavapai County Community Health Services – 1,000 units 
Janet Billiet - [email protected] 

AZ HIDTA c/o AZ Poison Control Center – 2,000 units 
Daniel E. Brooks MD, Medical Director - [email protected] 

AZ Poison Control Center to store allocation for AZ HIDTA. AZ HIDTA must share this allocation as follows:

Third quarter recipients:

AZ HIDTA c/o Arizona Poison Control Center – 2,500 units
Daniel E. Brooks MD, Medical Director - [email protected]

AZ Poison Control Center to store allocation for AZ HIDTA. AZ HIDTA must share this allocation as follows:

  • Andre House = 400 units – Sue Edmonds at [email protected]
  • Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) = 100 units – Janet Diodato at [email protected]
  • Discretion of AZ HIDTA for STOP IT, Tribes, ODMAP hotspots, etc. = 2,000 units – Randy Moffitt at [email protected] 

Sonoran Prevention Works – 800 units
Karen Broman [email protected]

Apache County Health Services Department – 500 units
Destiny Jensen [email protected]

Coconino County Health Department – 2,500 units
Candice Koenker [email protected]

Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition – 700 units
(will share as needed with Greenlee County Health Department)
Carolina Cortez [email protected]

Fourth quarter recipients:

Arizona Poison Control Center – 921 units
Daniel E. Brooks MD, Medical Director - [email protected]
AZ Poison Control Center to share this allocation as follows:

Sonoran Prevention Works – 1,100 units
Karen Broman [email protected]

Mohave County Health Department – 1,200 units 
Celina Lagpacan - [email protected]

Coconino County Health Department – 500 units
Candice Koenker [email protected]

Pima County Health Department – 3,000 units 
Monica Tun - [email protected] 

County health departments in Arizona use Dr. Lisa Villarroel's medical license to receive naloxone. Under A.R.S. § 36-192 county health departments are allowed to distribute naloxone.

Impact of Teva Naloxone in Arizona

To date in 2024, Teva has shipped to Arizona 16,500 units (consisting of 2 kits each) of naloxone. Ten counties and three community based organizations received these shipments directly. From there, these entities distributed naloxone to an additional 24 community organizations, 35 schools, 63 healthcare agencies and physicians, 147 members of the public and the Hopi Nation (600 units). Recipients include: Horizon Health & Wellness and Arizona Youth Partnership (Gila County); MSTEPP, Arizona Youth Partnership-Kingman Street Outreach Team, Mohave County WAQVE JTED Program-Lake Havasu City, KRMC New Resident Physicians, Mohave High School-Bullhead City, Southwest Behavioral Health, West Care, Always Better Homecare, and Mohave High School (Mohave County); Amado Youth Center, Friends in Deed, Arroyo Gardens, PPEP Community Prevention Coalition, Arizona Bilingual Back to School Event, PPEP Stopit, Pueblo School, PepTec School, John Valencia Youth Center, and University of Arizona (Pima County); Community Medical Services (Yuma County); Cochise Harm Reduction, NAMI Southeastern Arizona, and Community Bridges Crisis Team (Cochise County); Andre House, Central Arizona Shelter Services, Sonoran Prevention Works, Hopi Nation Direct Service, Arizona Poison Control, Arizona National Guard, Arizona Department of Education, and Be In The Know (project of UofA) (courtesy of AZ HIDTA). Although only one life saved has been reported, many more may have been affected by having access to this life-saving drug and the widespread effect of having naloxone in the hands of so many who may need it is immeasurable.

Free Narcan Resources for Public and Non-Profit Organizations

Direct Relief is non-profit program whose mission is to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care. They administer programs in a non-discriminatory manner, free of charge on a humanitarian basis, and without regard to political affiliation, religious belief, or ethnic identity. They provide donations of NARCAN® Nasal Spray, to U.S. non-profit and harm reduction organizations.  

For Public Organizations: As product is available, Emergent offers a specified number of units of NARCAN® Nasal Spray to K-12 schools (2 units), colleges and universities (4 units), public libraries (1 unit) and YMCA’s (1 unit) in the United States at no cost. These organizations are eligible for donation every four years, aligning with product expiration. To request a donation, email Direct Relief at [email protected].  

For Non-Profit Organizations: Through Direct Relief, non-profit organizations can request and -- if approved -- order donated product as it becomes available. To begin the process of requesting a product donation for your organization, please contact Direct Relief to determine eligibility by completing their Health Provider Partnership Form.  

Note: “For Profit” companies interested in purchasing Narcan for your workplace may go to www.narcan.com or www.narcanworkplace.com. These sites also host resources and video trainings.

Effect of the Opioid Epidemic in Arizona

In 2023, more than five people a day died of an opioid overdose. Another eleven people a day suffered non-fatal opioid overdose events. Some 21,900 emergency and inpatient visits involved suspected drug overdoses. Even more troubling is the rapid increase in the numbers of newborns born already suffering the effects of drug withdrawal due to exposure in utero. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is educating Arizonans on fentanyl and opioid treatment and prevention, the signs of an overdose and how to use the life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone.

Community Outreach Materials

Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in the Workplace

Opioid Use Disorder in the workplace is an issue every Arizona employer faces. The number of lives and amount of money lost is staggering. Certain industries are harder hit, but all employers could benefit from resources that help them address the problems. 75% of employers report that opioid use has impacted their workplace, but only 17% report being extremely well-prepared to address the issue. The result… 7 years in a row, overdose deaths at work have increased. The cost of the opioid crisis in Arizona has tripled over the past decade, according to Glenn Farley, Common Sense Institute Arizona’s Research Director. In 2022 alone, the cost reached a peak of $53 billion. For help addressing opioid use disorder in your business, the Opioid Use Disorder Business Toolkit provides a roadmap with concrete actions you can take to maintain a safe and supportive workplace.

Attorney General Actions Addressing the Opioids Crisis

Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking an all-of-the-above approach to help Arizonans recover from the fallout of the opioid crisis. The cross-functional team is attacking the issue from stopping fentanyl coming across the border to deep-rooted community needs.